Propelled toy arrangement and method



May 12, 1970 R. F. PIPPIN. JR

PROPELLED TOY ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD Filed 001;. 24, 1965 2Sheets'-Sheet l w El m O I k 97 22214. H m E 3 2 3 MI P U m v 0 F I a wB .IWMWW u. B 2 .l R) 3 2 L Fm M 2 2 P" M n 2 4 FIG.4

INVENTOR REGINALD F. PI PPIN J R May 12, 1970 R. F. PIPPIN. JR 3,5

PROPELLED TQY ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD Filed Oct. 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR REGINALD F. PIPPIN, JR.

United States Patent Oifice 3,510,980 Patented May 12, 1970 3,510,980PROPELLED TOY ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD Reginald F. Pippin, Jr., 7806Ruxway Road, Towson, Md. 21204 Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,299Int. Cl. A63h 27/00 U.S. CI. 46-74 46 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA propelled toy vehicle body in the form of a simulated rocket missileis propelled by fluid discharge from a pressurizable fluid chamber, thevehicle body carrying one or more satellite bodies which are releasablyretained with the vehicle body during a portion of its travel. Thepressurizable fluid chamber has a movable wall, the position of whichcontrols the retention or release of the satellite bodies. The retainedsatellite bodies are retained within opposed transverse openings in thevehicle body by releasable retainers, including the movable wall andsimultaneously or sequentially releasable detents which are moved by oneor more movable portions of the movable wall as a function of thepressure in the pressurizable fluid chamber. Satellite separation isaided by either or both of centrifugal force through vehicle bodyrotation or stored spring energy. In one embodiment a parachute isreleased through movement of a movable wall of the pressurizable fluidchamber.

This invention relates to a propelled toy arrangement and method, andmore particularly to a pressurized liquid expulsion or reaction motorpropelled toy, which preferably takes the form of a rocket, and whicheffects release of and launching of one or more satellites or othermembers such as a parachute after a period of flight dependent uponfluid pressure in the rocket body.

It is a feature of the invention to provide a propelled toy arrangementand method, and particularly a reaction motor rocket simulation toy,which effects release and launching of selected objects after a periodor periods of time after launch from the ground or other site.

A further feature is the provision of such a reaction motor toyarrangement in which the satellite or satellites, or other objects suchas a parachute, are released and launched as a function of the extent ofdischarge of fuel from the reaction motor.

Still a further feature is the provision of a satellite launching rockettype toy in which the satellites are launched from the rocket body underthe influence of a spring force which is delayed in its action until aperiod after launch of the rocket.

Another feature is the provision of a satellite launching rocket typetoy in which the satellites are launched from the rocket body under theinfluence of centrifugal force resulting from spin stabilization of therocket during flight, with or without spring action satellite launchingassistance.

Still a further feature is the provision of a satellite launching rockettoy in which a plurality of satellites are launched at dilferent timesduring the flight of the rocket body.

Still other objects, features and attendant advantages will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the followingdetailed description of several physical embodiments according to theinvention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a toy rocket embodimentaccording to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a section view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a section view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section view of a modified satellite holding andrelease arrangement,

FIG. 6 is a section view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a section view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section view of a further modification,providing for parachute holding and release as a function of reactionmotor internal pressure,

FIG. 9 is a section view taken on line 99 of FIG. 8,

FIGURE 10 is a schematic illustration of a further modificationaccording to the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is shown a self-propelledliquid ejection type reaction motor rocket toy 11 having a pressurizableliquid storage chamber 14 enclosed by annular side wall 13, rear endwall 15 and forward end wall 17, 19. Various suitable materials may beused, considering the required functions of the parts, including rubberor plastics such as nylon, polyethylene, Delvin, acetal resin,polypropylene, etc. As in prior rocket toys of this general type thestorage chamber 14 may be loaded through a discharge orifice with acharge of fuel in the form of liquid such as water W, and the chamber issubsequently pressurized and launched, normally in a generally verticaldirection, from a suitable launcher. Various launcher arrangements maybe used, such as that shown in the Holderer Pat. 3,046,694, orKrautkrawer Pat. 2,732,657. The Holderer type launcher is shown forpurposes of illustration at 31, and is preferable since it ispressure-responsively self-releasing in action. This type lanucher 31includes a nodule detent 37 in an orifice-sealing stem 33 having apressurizing bore 35 through which air and/ or water may be pumped toeffect desired pressurization of chamber 14, and subsequent self-releaseof the rocket 11 upon build-up of pressure beyond a given value withinthe chamber 14. Propulsion of the rocket 11 is effected by reaction fromthe discharge of liquid from the chamber 14 through orifice 15a, and inthe illustrated and preferred embodiment stabilization of the rocket iseffected by fins P which are preferably canted to provide spinstabilization and other, effects such as aiding in the launching of thesatellites as will be described hereinafter.

The nose section 21, which is preferably separately formed from thelower section 13, 15, 17, 19 for ease of molding, is secured to thelower section as by suitable adhesive, spin welding, etc., through aface junction with the upper surface of rigid Wall section 19.

Rocket 11 carries a pair of diametrically opposed satellite, spacecapsule, or space ship members 41, the shape of which is frusto-conicalwith a plano-convex outer base end conforming to the general curvatureof the adjoining outer surface of a nose section 11. This general shapeenables advantageous holding and launching and has the added feature ofresembling the general shape of early manned space capsules which arewell remembered by children who may use this toy. The satellites 41 arereleasably held in their respective complementary openings 21b bysatellite retaining means which in the illustrative and preferredembodiment takes the form of positive retention detents which arenormally resiliently urged away from holding engagement with thesatellites and which are urged into such holding engagement by positivepressure in the liquid fuel storage cham ber 14. In the illustratedembodiment each of these detents take the form of detent plungers ridingin a respective guide bore 210 (which bore 210 serves as means movablymounting the satellite retaining means 27a, 27 b) and having an enlargedlower end 27a and a smaller diameter detent end 27b which engages with ahole or recess 43 formed in the wall of satellite 41. Compressionsprings 29 resiliently urge the detents away from satellite holdingposition, while positive pressure within chamber 14 effects movement ofthe detents upwardly against the compression springs 29' and towardengagement with shoulder stops 21d to effect holding engagement with thesatellites 41, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. This upward movement isaccomplished through upward flexing and expanding movement of flexiblediaphragm sections 17 of the forward wall of chamber 14. Upon reductionof pressure in the chamber 14 as a function of expulsion of the liquid Wfrom the jet orifice 15a the spring will eventually overcome the upwardforce exerted on the detent plungers 27a, 27b by the wall sections 17and the detents will be moved downward out of holding engagement withsatellites 41, whereupon the satellites will be forcefully propelledoutwardly from their respective compartments 2112, under the influenceof the stored energy in previously compressed compression spring 25, andthe centrifugal force exerted on the satellites through the spinimparted to the rocket by canted fins F. If only spring ejection of thesatellites is desired then fins F may be made straight; however it isconsidered that the spin imparted motion substantially enhances thedesired orbiting satellite simulation action.

Due to the centrifugal ejection forces exerted on the off-axissatellites of FIG. 1 as a result of spin stabilization of the rocket bycanted fins F it will be seen that one may also effect launching of thesatellites from the rocket without employing spring 25, although thisspring is most helpful and desirable in providing for greater launchingdistance of the satellites than is imparted by centrifugal force alonefor a given sp-in rate. An embodiment illustrating this alternativemodification is shown schematically in FIG. 10, wherein the rocket 411is spin stabilized by canted fins F, and satellites 441 are releasablyretained in the rocket body by spring biased detent plungers 427 whichare pressure-releasably biased into holding position by flexiblediaphragm wall sections 417 of the chamber 414.

A modified arrangement is shown in FIGURE 5 in which the spring force isunequal on the two detents for the respective satellites, therebytending to effect movement of one detent out of holding engagementbefore the other. The satellites 241 are retained in their compartmentsagainst the radially outward action of compressed compression spring 225as in FIG. 1, through the medium of detents 2271; and 227b" engagingwith respective detent receiving openings 243 in the satellites. Detents227b' and 22711", which may suitably be made of metal for desiredstrength, move in guide slots 263 and are integrally connected as a unitby an intermediate central connecting section 227a which is engaged by acompressed compression spring 251 disposed in a recess 223 above singleunitary flexible diaphragm wall 217 and detent connecting section 227a.As recess 223 and spring 251 are off center with respect to detentsection 227a the spring biasing action of spring 251 will be greatest ondetent 227b" and this detent will thus tend to be moved down out ofholding engagement with its respective satellite 241 before detent 227b,thereby releasing and enabling launching of this respective satellitebefore the other satellite. The unbalanced lateral reaction forceexerted by launching a single satellite will cause the rocket to tilt oryaw at that time, with probable change of rocket course, and subsequentlaunching of the other satellite will be along a different path thanwould have otherwise occurred with simultaneous release and launching.

In the modification of FIG. 8 a parachute 361 and parachute compartmentdoor 351 are releasably held in parachute-retention condition by a lever327 pivotally mounted in the nose end of the rocket as indicated at 329.Lever 327 is moved against the force of door opening spring 353 andparachute ejection spring 365 by wallforming self-sealing obturatingpiston plunger 317 moving in complementary bore 319 in the nose of therocket. Piston plunger connects to lever 327 through linkage articulatedas at 331, 333, and is moved upwardly under the influence of pressure inthe liquid storage chamber 314 which is in fluid connection with bore319 and piston plunger 317. In response to decrease of pressure in thechamber 314 springs 365 and 353 urge door 351 up, the spring 365 alsomoving the parachute body up and out of its compartment 323 by movementof floor 363 and guide pin 364 for wind opening and blooming thereof.The shroud lines of the parachute 361 are secured to an eyelet 371, andthus the opening of door 351 tends to aid in full ejection and bloomingof the parachute as the shroud lines will be pulled up from thecompartment by the eyelet 371 adjacent the end of the door 351. Thisembodiment aids in recovery of the rocket with minimum or no damage dueto descent.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect toseveral illustrative physical embodiments thereof, it will beappreciated that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention. For instance, the flexiblediaphragm wall section(s) could be made of highly elastic material andbe self-returnable to a non-expanded position, and by forming thesatellite detents on the diaphragm or securing the detents to themovable diaphragm wall sections, the desired satellite detentrelease-movement force could be derived directly from the diaphragmelasticity and with fewer parts. Also, while spin enhances the satellitelaunching action of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 5, it will beapparent that straight fin stabilization can be employed with sacrificeof the spin force action on the satellite members, since the laterallyacting launching spring will itself suffice to launch the satellitesfrom the main body of the rocket. This may be particularly desirable insome instances, as where non-simultaneous or sequential release of thesatellites is effected as in FIG. 5, in which case one releasedsatellite would go in one lateral generally horizontally extendingdirection and the other satellite woud be launched more toward theground due to the reaction force from the launching of the firstsatellite, whereas with spin stabilization the particular generaldirection of launch of the second satellite member is not readilypredictable, being dependent on rate of spin and time delay betweensatellite releases. For simulation toy purposes the sequential releaseof satellite members with a non-spinning rocket could be said to yield afirst generally horizontally directed or satellite orbiting launch as tothe first released satellite and a bomb or air-to-surface missle as tothe subsequent released more downwardly directed laterally launchedmember, assuming an initial substantially vertical rocket flight pathand a generally vertical position of the rocket body at time of firstsatellite release. Also, while the satellites are disposed for launchingsubstantially perpendicular to the rocket axis, and such is preferred,it will be apparent that generally other launch directions can beprovided for one or more Satellites or other launched members. While twosatellites are shown and are normally adequate and preferred due totheir balancing effect any desired number may be provided within thespace available. Further, while the parachute of FIG. 8 is attached andis preferred as a recovery chute for damage minimization, the chutecould be released fully free. Additionally, for ease of molding orotherwise forming the parts, the flexible diaphragm wall sections 17,217, 417 may be separately formed and suitably secured in sealedposition as by a suitable cement, adhesive, or welding. It will thus beappreciated that the invention is not to be limited by the specificillustrative embodiments but only by the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first body having apressurizable fluid chamber and a fluid discharge orifice in fluidconnection between said chamber and the outside atmosphere, said bodyhaving a pressure-responsively movable wall in fluid connection with andmovable in response to pressure in said chamber, a member held in afirst position with respect to said first body as a function of theposition of said movable wall in response to internal pressure in saidbody chamber, and a spring secured to one of said first body or saidmember at other than the discharge orifice thereof for effecting a forceresiliently urging said member away from its held first position.

2. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 1, said movable wallcomprising a piston plunger movable in a bore formed in said body, saidbore being in fluid pressure connection with said fluid chamber.

3. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 1, said movable wallbeing a diaphragm-like section flexibly inwardly collapsible andoutwardly expansibly movable as a function of pressure in said fluidchamber.

4. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first body having apressurizable fluid chamber and a fluid discharge orifice in fluidconnection between said chamber and the outside atmosphere, said bodyhaving a pressure-responsively movable wall in fluid connection with andmovable in response to pressure in said chamber, a member held in afirst position with respect to said first body as a function of theposition of said movable wall in response to internal pressure in saidbody chamber, and means for effecting a force resiliently urging saidmember away from its held first position, said member being disposed ina laterally extending opening in said body in unsymmetrical off-axisposition relative to the longitudinal axis of said body, and rotationimparting means for effecting rotational spin of said body and memberabout the longitudinal axis of said body to thereby effect lateralcentrifugal force on said body and said member acting to aid ineffecting lateral separation and movement of said member away from saidbody in response to decrease in pressure within said chamber andmovement of said movable wall.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, said rotation imparting meansbeing canted fins on said body.

6. An arrangement according to claim 4, and a second member disposed ina laterally extending opening in said body opposite to the first saidlaterally extending opening, and spring means disposed and extendinglaterally between said two members and resiliently urging said memberslaterally outwardly in opposite directions away from said body.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, said movable Wall being alongitudinally movable flexible diaphragm wall, and a pair of detentsconnecting between said members and said diaphragm wall.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, said detents being formed on acommon member, and spring means resiliently urging said detents awayfrom member-holding position.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, said spring means being disposedfor exerting unbalanced moving force on said two detents to thereby tendto effect holding release of one of said detents before the other.

10. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first body having apressurizable fluid chamber and a fluid discharge orifice in fluidconnection between said chamber and the outside atmosphere, said bodyhaving a pressureresponsively movable wall in fluid connection with andmovable in response to pressure in said chamber, a member held in afirst position with respect to said first body as a function of theposition of said movable wall in response to internal pressure in saidbody chamber, and means for effecting a force resiliently urging saidmember away from its held first position and spring means attached tosaid first body and resiliently urging said movable wall section towarda position whereby said member is released by said first body.

11. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first body having a.pressurizable fluid chamber and a fluid discharge orifice in fluidconnection between said chamber and the outside atmosphere, said bodyhaving a pressureresponsively movable wall in fluid connection with andmovable in response to pressure in said chamber, a member held in afirst position with respect to said first body as a function of theposition of said movable wall in response to internal pressure in saidbody chamber, and means for effecting a force resiliently urging saidmember away from its held first position, said member being a releasabledoor mounted on said first body, and a parachute-holding compartment,said door effectively covering said parachute-holding compartment whenin said held position.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11, said movable wall sectioncomprising a piston plunger movable in a bore formed in said body, saidbore being in fluid pressure connection with said first chamber.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12, and a pivoted mechanicallinkage between said plunger and said door.

14. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first body having apressurizable fluid chamber and a fluid discharge orifice in fluidconnection between said chamber and the outside atmosphere, said bodyhaving a pressure-responsively movable wall in fluid connection with andmovable in response to pressure in said chamber, a member held in afirst unsymmetrical off-axis zone with respect to said first body as afunction of the position of a portion of said movable wall in responseto internal pressure in said body chamber, and rotation-imparting meansfor said body and member to impart a centrifugal force urging saidmember radially of the axis of rotation and away from its held firstzone.

15. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 14, and a secondmember held in a second off-axis zone with respect to said first body asa function of the position of a portion of said movable wall in responseto internal pressure in said body chamber.

16. An arrangement according to claim 15, said movable wall includingtWo integrally connected spaced movable sections connected by a commonsubstantially rigid section, and two movable detent members operativelyengageable in holding relation each with a respective one of said heldmembers as a function of the flexed position of its respective saidmovable section.

17. An arrangement according to claim 16, and spring means resilientlyurging said detent members away from holding relation position.

18. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 15, said first bodybeing elongate and generally cylindrical, said rotation-imparting meansbeing canted spinimparting and stabilizing fins thereon, said two heldmembers being disposed in diametrically oppositely outwardly facingcavity openings in said body and generally symmetrical with respect toone another.

19. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 18, said membersbeing tapered in shape and having a blunted end and having apiano-convex face conforming to the outer surface shape of said firstbody.

20. The method of launching a toy satellite member with a generallyhorizontal path from a height above ground level comprising transportingsaid satellite in a generally vertically upward direction by reactionfrom fluid discharge in a generally downward direction from apressurized chamber while retaining said satellite against lateralrelease as a function of positive pressure in said pressurized chamber,and releasing and imparting lateral generally horizontally directedmotion to said satellite when said chamber pressure falls below aselected level.

21. The method according to claim 20 and spinning said satellite withits center of gravity off from the axis of spin during said generallyvertically upward directional transport, said lateral generallyhorizontally directed motion being effected through the centrifugalforce thus exerted onto said satellite.

22. The method according to claim 20 wherein said generally horizontallydirected motion is imparted by 7 a resiliently urging force acting onsaid satellite during its upward transport.

23. The method of launching a toy satellite from a height above groundlevel comprising imparting upward movement to a carrier and saidsatellite while imparting off-axis spin to said satellite by spinningsaid carrier about an axis along the general line of flight thereof andreleasing said satellite to travel transversely of said line of travelunder action of centrifugal force thereon after a period of upwardtravel.

24. The method according to claim 23 including imparting upward andoff-axis spin movement to two separable satellites with their centers ofgravities disposed in substantially balancing off-axis position relativeto the axis of spin thereof, and releasing each of said satellites aftera period of upward travel.

25. The method according to claim 24 including substantiallysimultaneously releasing said satellites for travel in generallyopposite directions.

26. The method of launching a toy satellite from a height above groundlevel comprising imparting upward movement to said satellite whileimparting off-axis spin thereto about an axis along the general line offlight and releasing said satellite to travel transversely of said lineof travel under action of centrifugal force thereon after a period ofupward travel, imparting upward and olf-axis spin movement to twoseparable satellites with their centers of gravities disposed insubstantially balancing off-axis position relative to the axis of spinthereof, releasing each of said satellites after a period of upwardtravel, and releasing one of said satellites before the other to therebyunbalance the orbiting spin of the other satellite and change the spinaxis thereof and thereafter releasing said other satellite.

27. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first body having apressurize-ble fluid chamber and a fluid discharge orifice in fluidconnection between said chamber and the outside atmosphere, said bodyhaving a pressureresponsively movable wall in fluid connection with andmovable in response to pressure in said chamber, a member held in afirst position with respect to said first body as a function of theposition of said movable wall in response to internal pressure in saidbody chamber, and releasable stored potential energy means secured toone of said first body and said member during interconnected movement ofsaid first body, and said member, said releasable stored potentialenergy means being other than said movable wall and other than forming adischarge orifice, for effecting a releasable stored potential energyforce urging said member away from its held first position.

28. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 27, and a furtherunit carried by said first body, said held member being a movable detentpositively engaging said further unit and retaining said further unitwhen said held member is in its held first position.

29. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 27, said movable wallcomprising a flexibly movable diaphragm portion flexibly outwardlyexpansibly movable and inwardly collapsibly movable as a function ofdifferential pressure between the internal fluid chamber pressure andopposing external pressure on said flexibly movable diaphragm portion.

30. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first body releasablycarrying a satellite unit, said first body having propulsion meansincluding a pressurizable fluid chamber having a discharge orifice,satellite retaining means on said first body and retaining saidsatellite as a function of positive pressure in said pressurizablechamber, means movably mounting said satellite retaining means formovement to satellite release position as a function of decrease of saidchamber pressure, and transverseforce-and-motion-imparting means actingtransversely on said satellite to effect transverse lateral motionthereof transverse to and away from the line of travel of said firstbody as a function of satellite release by said satellite retainer.

31. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 30, said satelliteretaining means including a pressure-responsively movable wall in fluidconnection with and movable in response to pressure in said chamber.

32. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 31, said movable wallcomprising a flexibly movable diaphragm portion.

33. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first longitudinallypropelled body carrying a satellite body releasably retained therewithin off-axis position relative to the combined longitudinal spin axis ofsaid bodies, means for propelling said first body and its carriedsatellite body along a longitudinal path of travel, rotation impartingmeans for spinning said first body and satellite body generally aboutsaid longitudinal spin axis during longitudinal propelled motion thereofalong its longitudinal path of travel to impart a centrifugal force tosaid satellite body radially of said spin axis and in a direction awayfrom said first body, and means for releasing the retention of saidsatellite during longtiudinal flight of said first propelled body andsaid satellite body whereby said satellite is moved transversely to andaway from the path of travel of said first body as a function of thecentrifugal force thereon.

34. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 33, said firstpropelled body carrying plural said satellite bodies similarlyreleasably retained therewith with their centers of gravity disposed insubstantially balancing olfaxis position relative to the axis of spin ofsaid first body and said plural satellite bodies.

35. An arrangement according to claim 34, said satellite bodies beingcarried on substantially opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of saidfirst body, and substantially simultaneous dual release means carried bysaid first body for substantially simultaneously releasing saidsatellites for travel in generally opposite directions.

36. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first propelled bodycarrying a satellite body releasably retained therewith in off-axisposition relative to the combined longitudinal spin axis of said bodies,rotation-imparting means for spinning said first body and satellite bodygenerally about said longitudinal spin axis during longitudinalpropelled motion thereof to impart a centrifugal force to said satellitebody radially of said spin axis and in a direction away from said firstbody, and means for releasing the retention of said satellite duringflight whereby said satellite is moved directly transversely away fromthe path of travel of said first body as a function of the centrifugalforce thereon, said first propelled body carrying plural said satellitebodies similarly releasably retained therewith with their centers ofgravity disposed in substantially balancing off-axis position relativeto the axis of spin of said first body and said plural satellite bodies,and sequential separate time release means carried by said first bodyfor sequentially and separately releasing each of said plural satellitebodies.

37. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first propelled bodycarrying a satellite body releasably retained therewith in off-axisposition relative to the combined longitudinal spin axis of said bodies,rotation-imparting means for spinning said first body and satellite bodygenerally about said longitudinal spin axis during longitudinalpropelled motion thereof to impart a centrifugal force to said satellitebody radially of said spin axis and in a direction away from said firstbody, and means for releasing the retention of said satellite duringflight whereby said satellite is moved directly transversely away fromthe path of travel of said first body as a function of the centrifugalforce thereon, said first propelled body carrying plural said satellitebodies similarly releasably retained therewith their centers of gravitydisposed in substantially balancing off-axis position relative to theaxis of spin of said first body and said plural satellite bodies, saidfirst body having fluid propulsion means including a pressurizable fluidchamber and a fluid discharge orifice in said first body, said firstbody having a pressure-responsively movable wall in fluid connectionwith and movable in response to pressure in said chamber, said satellitebodies being retained and released as a function of the position of saidmovable wall.

38. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first propelled body havingfluid propulsion means including a pressurizable fluid chamber and amovable wall with two spaced apart individually longitudinally movablewall portions movable as a function of internal pressure in saidchamber, and two transversely separable units releasably carried by andseparable from said first body, said separable units being releasablyretained with and released from said first body as a function of therespective positions of said movable wall portions.

39. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 38, said movable wallportions each comprising a flexible diaphragm.

40. A propelled toy arrangement comprising a first propelled body havingfluid propulsion means including a pressurizable fluid chamber and amovable wall with two spaced apart individually movable wall portionsmovable as a function of internal pressure in said chamber, and twoseparable units releasably carried by and separable from said firstbody, said separable units being releasably retained with and releasedfrom said first body as a function of the respective positions of saidmovable wall portions, the movable wall portions being flexiblediaphragms spaced from one another, and a relatively rigid wall portionseparating said flexible diaphragm wall portions.

41. A propelled toy arrangement according to claim 40, and spring meansurging each of said wall portions away from its pressurized expandedposition to assist in release of said units as a function of decrease inpressure within said chamber.

42. The method of launching a toy satellite member comprisingtransporting said satellite in a fi-rst direction along a line of travelby reaction from fluid discharge in a generally opposite direction froma pressurized chamber while retaining said satellite against lateral rlease as a function of positive pressure in said pressurized chamber,and releasing and imparting transversely directed motion to saidsatellite relative to said first direction of motion.

43. The method according to claim 42 wherein said first direction isgenerally upward and said satellite member is rel ased from a positionabove initial launch level and during movement along said upwarddirection.

44. The method according to claim 42 and spinning said satellite withits center of gravity off from the axis of spin during said generallyfirst directional transport, said lateral generally transverselydirected motion being eflected through the centrifugal force thusexerted into said satellite.

45. The method according to claim 42 wherein said generally transverselydirected motion is imparted by a resiliently urging force acting on saidsatellite during its transport along said first direction.

46. The method of launching a toy satellite from a height above groundlevel comprising imparting free flight upward movement to a carrier andto said satellite While retaining said satellite with said carrier, andreleasing and imparting separating flight motion to said satellitetransversely of the movement of said carrier by a stored spring action.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,748,529 6/1956 Swan 46862,997,809 8/1961 Gladen 4686 3,124,899 3/1964 Taubman 46-86 2,739,4153/1956 Roberton 46-67 3,218,756 11/1965 Dragich 46-74 x 3,229,418 1/1966Dragich 46-88 ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner E. KRAUSE, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X,R. 4686

